　 How to appreciate Buddhist images

1. Kinds of Buddhist images.

Budhist image is essentially the image of Buddha (Nyorai), but generally is classified into 4 categories.
They are classified into Nyorai, Bosatsu, Myoo, and Tenbu.

a. Nyorai

Nyorai is nothing but Buddha, that is, the one who has been religeously awakened.
Nyorai ordinarily expresses himself in the style after he became a bonze and attained Buddhahoood and with the appearance of no hair arrange, noornaments and, wearing only one robe.

Nyorai image may be called as the origin of Buddhist images and it is the apperance of the style after Shakyamuni had been religeously awakened.
The great image of Buddha at Nara is Nyorai.

Shaka Nyorai
The origin of all Buddhist images. O-shaka-sama.

Amida Nyorai
Radiates the light of eternal saving for all people.

Yakushi Nyorai
Buddha of the worldly reward who cures all diseases and satisfies clothing and food.

Birushana Buddha
Central figure of Buddhas supervising uncountably numerous Shaka Nyorais.
The great image of Buddha.

Dainichi Nyora
Nyorai of esoteric Buddhism who made the cosmos itself a divinity.

b. Bosatsu.

The person being the state before Shakyamuni was in his training period through which he got religeously awakened is called Bosatsu.

Bosatsu means the one who pursues spiritual awakening.
It is the person who is expected to become Buddha and trains himself for the world and human being.

Since the apperance before Shakyamuni attained Buddhahood, that is, Prince Shiddarta was the model, the apperance of Bosatsu is a young noble man.

Miroku and Kannon are Bosatsu.

Kanzeon Bosatsu (Saint Kannon)
Meaning Bosatsu of the worldly reward who can kindly realize all wishes.

Juichimen (11 faced) Kannon
Saving and picking up all the people with his face directed to all directions.

Senju (1000 handed) Kannon
Entrusting his 1000 hands with capability of infinite relief.

Fukukenjaku Kannon
Saving and picking up everything with a perfectnet.

Nyoirin Kannon
Kannon who gives treasures to the world as well as the outer world (spiritual world).

Juntei Kannon
Buddha's mother who gave birth to lots of Buddha in the past.

Bato Kannon
Cutting off evil running about the heaven like Pegasus.

Fugen Bosatsu
The Bosatsu who kindly gives us all the divine favors of Buddha.

Miroku Bosatsu
The future Buddha who will save all creatures after 5 billion 670 million years.

Kokuzo Bosatsu
The Bosatsu who kindly gives us outstanding power of memory.

Monju Bosatsu
The Bosatsu who governed intelligence and guided all Nyorais.

Jizo Bosatsu
The Bosatsu who kindly saves people at the entrance of the Hell.

Daiseishi Bosatsu
The Bosatsu who shines on the people all over with the light of intelligence.

Nikko / Gakko Bosatsu
Warriors standing beside Yakushi Nyorai.

c. Myoou

Myoou is a Buddha of esoteric Buddhism who guards Buddhism from external enemies, and surrenders.

Ohudou-san is a Myoou.

Fudomyoou
Incarnation of Dainichi Nyorai who converts angers into salvation.

Godai Myoou
Incarnation of Gochi Nyorai whose apperance is that of anger.

Kujaku Myoou
The principal image of warding off the evils and praying for rains.

Aizen Myoou
King of sexual passion who converts earthly desires into spiritual awakening.

d. Tembu

Tembu guards Nyorais and Bosatsus and realizes the worldly benefits.
Gods who became believers of Buddhism through touching teachings of Shakyamuni.
Niou is a Tembu.

Bonten
The Indian God of world creation who became the God guarding Buddhism.

Taishakuten
The God who guards Buddhism while living in the center of the world.

Kongo Wrestler / Shukongoshin
The God who makes evils dispersed in front of the entrance gate.

A type
This expresses "a" with the mouth open and symbolizes "start" of things.
This means your reaching the origin of everything, the truth.

N type
This expresses "n" with the mouth open and symbolizes "end" of things.
Entire knowledge and virtue are concluded there, and this cuts off evils with the gate of evils closed.

Shitenno
Guardian Gods in east, west, south, and north.
East. Jikokuten.
The country is supported and maintained.

West. Komokuten.
Buddha's teachings and mankind are guarded by observing this world with clairvoyance.

South. Zochoten.
Having an excellent power like small seeds growing into big trees.

North. Tamonten. By listening much to Buddha's teachings, he is versed in them.

In case of being alone, he is called Bishamonten (Shichi-fukujin ).

Bishamonten
Northern guardian God who drive away the deity of poverty.
One God of Shitenno.
The same as Tamonten.
In case where he is enshrined alone, he is generally called Bishamonten.

Kichijoten
Beautiful Goddes who grants us happiness.

Junishinsho
The group of Gods guarding the world following Yakushi Nyorai.

1. Kubira
2. Basara
3. Mekira
4. Antera
5. Anira
6. Santera
7. Indara
8. Haira
9. Makora
10. Shindara
11. Syotora
12. Bikara

Juniten
The group of doctrine-abiding Gods guarding all directions.

East............Taishakuten
Southeast.......Katen
South...........Enmaten
Southwest.......Rasetsuten
West............Suiten
Northwest.......Futen
North............Bishamonten
Heaven..........Bonten
Earth...........Chiten
Sun.............Nitten
Moon..............Gatten

Benzaiten

The God who governs music and scholarship.
God of water, God of monetary luck and better fortune.
Servant of Benzaiten is a serpent.

Therefore, we have festivals in Bentendo temple in every day of the Serpent and votive pictures with serpents drawn on them are dedicated.

Also, it is said that your properties will increase if you put a cast-off skin of a snake in your purse.

Hachibushu
The group of Gods guarding Buddhism with perfect guarding posture.

1. Ten......Bonten, Taishakuten, and Shitenno.
2. Ryu (King)
3. Yasha
4. Kendabba
5. Ashura
6. Karura
7. Kinnara
8. Magoraka

Nijuhachibushu
The group of Gods guarding believers of Senjukannon.
1. Naraenkengoou..............Niou
2. Misshakukongorikishi.......Niou
3. Tohoten....................Shitennou
4. Birurokushatennou..........Shitennou
5. Birubakushatennou..........Shitennou
6. Bishamontennou.............Shitennou
7. Daibonten
8. Taishakuten
9. Daibenkudokuten............Kichishoten
10. Mawarajo
11. Jinmoten
12. Konpiraou
13. Manzenshaou
14 .Hibakaraou
15. Jinmoten
16. Konjikikujakuou
17. Sanshitaisho
18. Nandaryuou
19. Shakatsuraryuou
20. Karuraou
21. Kondaiou
22. Mansenou
23. Magorakaou
24. Makeishuraou
25. Kendatsubaou
26. Ashuraou
27. Kinnaraou
28. Basusennin

Huuzin/Raizin
God of the wind(Huuzin)

God of thunder(Raizin)

Daikokuten
The Indian God of war who became the God of Wealth.

Kishibojin
The God of easy delivery and child-rearing with sad career.

Gigeiten
A superb performer of songs and dances who has a beautiful appearance.

Widely worshipped by those related to public entertainments.

2.In

In Buddhism, method and shape of clasping hands of Buddhist images are called "In".

This has an important meaning and in many cases you can understand the kind of Buddhisms or divine favors by just looking at them.

---------------To be continued-------------------------

I am sorry. It is being produced.
Illustrations and photographs are expected to be included.

9.How to make wood block prints

11.Notice of Wood Block Printing Exhibition